horton



W. M. HORTON.

LAMP.

APPLICATION'HLED SEPT. 18, 1917.

1 ,32 1,447 Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM M. HORTON, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOB TO THE ADAMS-BAGNALL ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

LAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 11 1919.

Application filed September 18, 1917. Serial No. 191,909.,

means for preventing the glare of said headlights, the object of the invention being to provide improved means for shifting the reflector of the headlight and maintaining it in its shifted position.

The present invention is an improvement in partnpon that shown and described in my contemporaneously pending application, Serial No. 134,625, filed December 2, 1916.

In that case an electrically operated means is used for shifting the reflector, which electrically operated means consists of a motor driven mechanism, and in the present case a substantially similar motor driven mechanlsm is used for shiftlng the reflector. In my pr1or case, however, no provision was made for maintaining the reflector in its shifted position. Inconsequence there was nothing to prevent the user from so manipulating the reflector by keeping his" finger upon the push button or other switch asto immediately shift the reflector back into its 7 normal position, and so throw the glare of the lamp into the eyes of the driver of an oncoming vehicle.

venting this by making it impossible for the user to shift the reflectorback into its normal position by continuing to press the shifting button or switch. In otherwords, the present improvement provides a means which will shift the reflector fromits normal position into a position to project the rays of light downward and maintain it in such position, notwithstanding the operator may continue to press upon the reflector shifting'button or switch, and until he has manipulated another button or. switch.

The present improve ment', however, is for the purpose of pro of one button the reflector may be shifted, whereupon the current isbroken and until both buttons are pushed, the reflector cannot be shifted back to its normal position to reflect the rays of light directly forward. In practice, it has been found that where a single button is used to shift the reflector both downward and back to its normal position, some operators have a tendency at times to throw the light a downward but momentarily and then immediately shift it back, but'thistendency is largely overcome when it is made necessary for the operator to operate another button in order to accomplish this.

Therefore the object of the present improvement is to provide broadly a means for shifting a reflector in connection with a means for maintaining or looking that reflector against further shiftable movement and back to its normal position, and this by very simple, inexpensive and effective means.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a plan View of a' pair of headlights such as those usually used on automobiles with the reflectors connected for simultaneous movement, a part of each headlight being broken away to more clearly illustrate the improvement; Fig. 2 is a detail view of one side of the motor driving mechanism; Fig. 3 is a front view of themotor driving mechanism shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view of the motor driven mechanism shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the circuits; Fig. 6 is a front view of one of the lamps with a part of the reflector broken awa to show the mechanism in the rear thereof Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view of one of the lamps or headlights, Fig. Sis a cross sectional View taken on line 8-8 and looking in the direction of the arrows of one of the lamps; Fig. 9 is .of door 4:. Within the casing, which is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed sleeves 5, the reflector 8 is mounted for shiftnected by a pair of coupling rods or pivots 37 coupled together by a coupling member 36, which rods 37 extend through the sleeves 5 of the lamp casings and into one end of each strap of a lamp, in which they are fixed, the opposite strap of each lamp being pivotally supported in a similar sleeve 5 by a short pivot rod.

From the foregoing it will be seen that on the movement of one reflector by the mechanism herein provided, both reflectors will be likewise shifted, -or either may be shifted manually by hand to properly bring the two reflectors into similar positions. The reflector is sleeved at its rear side as at 11 for the reception of the usual light bulb and socket or connection, so that the light bulb of course moves with the reflector. In the present instance, the sleeve is slit so as to form a spring clip 71 having an opening 71 at its forward end. The lam bulb connector or sleeve 73 is provided with a series of serrations or teeth 73 and between these teeth and the apertured spring clip is located a ball adapted to engage the teeth. By this means the lamp bulb may be shifted forwardly or backwardly in the sleeve 70 and maintained in its adjusted position by the I looking ball 72 thereby to properly focus the bulb. Each casing is provided with an opening as at 12 for the reception of a suitable connection, such asa-n Ediswan coupling or connector shown in the present instance as a double connector, one wire as 13 of which is attached to the bulb connector, and through the means of a suitable switch is connected with the battery whereby the lights may be turned on and off as required. The other wire as 14, leads to the electrical operating means about to be described. Carried by the casing at any suitable point in the rear of the reflector is a bracket 15 for supporting the actuating means for the reflector. Carried by this bracket is a suit-able motor or electro-magnet 16 having a shiftable core 17 provided at its forward end with. a contact portion 18 and at its side with projecting pins 19. Also carried by the bracket at the forward side thereof, but insulated from the casing is a rigidly supported upstanding member 20 carrymg a springcontact memher or armature 21 having a contact portion 22 adapted to make or break contact with the contact portion 18 of the core. shaft 23 is supported for rotation at the upper end of the bracket 15, and for which purpose the bracket 15 has secured thereto 1 be operated manually.

A short.

a pair of forwardly extending sleeved portions 2i. The short shaft extends through the lamp casing and by manipulating the end thereof, which projects through the casing the eccentric hereinafter described may Between the sleeved portions 2% located for oscillatory movement on the shaft a pair of oscillating arms 25, the lower ends of which are slotted for the pivots 19 of the core and between the upper ends of these arms is located a pawl 27 in position to engage a ratchet wheel 26 rigidly secured to the short shaft On the movement of the core back and forth the pawl will be operated through the medium of the oscillating arms 25 thereby to rotate the'ratchet wheel. The pawl is maintained in operative engagement with the ratchet wheel by a spring 30 secured to the bracket and the pawl, this spring being operative to always return the core or plunger 17 to its forward position when it has been drawn to the rear or backward by the magnet. In other words, when the core or plunger 17 is drawn rearward or backward to break the contact with the contact member 21, a spring 30 immediately acts through the pawl 21 to return the core or plunger into position to make contact so that when the mechanism is put in operation there is a continuous make and break between the contact portions of the core 17 and the member 21 for the purpose about to be described. Located on one end of the shaft 23 is an eccentricBl shown herein having a groove'to receive a strap 82 to which is connected an actuating rod 33 by means of a screw 32. The opposite end of this connecting rod 33 is connected to one of the reflectors as the left hand one shown in Fig. 1, preferably at thetop thereof. Located within the vehicle are a pair of push buttons or switches A and B. One member of the push button A is connected with the electro-magnet 16 and also with one member as 61 of a spring contact, this spring contact member 61 having a projecting portion suitably secured to the bracket 15. The other member of, this spring contact as 60 has a projecting portion suitably secured in position between the parts 20 and 21, and is connected with the other member of the push button A. These spring contact members 60 and 61 are properly insulated and the memof the pushbutton and to the electro-magreflectors from the point Where they projectnet. The other push button designated as B is in proper connection with the electro-.

magnet coil and with the lam switch and of course it will be understood that the several parts are suitably insulated as required and properlyelectrically connected with the several parts, adetail description thereof not being deemed necessary of this very simple electrical or anization. i

From the foregolng it will be observed that when the magnet is energized by the op-v eration of the push button B, the core or plunger 17-. will be drawn backward; from the contact member 21 while the spring 30 immediately acts through the pawl 27 to return the'core to its contact position, thus insuring a -make and break connection, so

that the pawl moving with the core operates to rotatethe ratchet wheel fixed to the shaft 23, and so rotate the eccentric and shiftthe the beam of light horizontally into a downward position to throw the rays of light downwardly and prevent the glare thereof.

The ratchet wheel-is maintained against" slipping backward by a suitable spring pawl 42 likewise carried by the vbracket 15, so that the-ratchet wheel can only move in one direction. During the movement of the reflector into its downward position, the

fiber roll 62 is carried into position to engage the spring contact member 61 and when the reflector has been fully shifted downward this fiber roll, continuing its rotation with the eccentric and its shaft breaks contact between the member 60 and 61, and

so disconnects as it were, the reflector from its-operating means. In consequence the re-' its downwardly shiftedposition, so that'if.

the button B is continuously pressed by the operator it will have no eflect in shiftin the reflector, whereas in my prior case i the button was continuously pressed the reflector would be shifted backward or upward into its normal position, I 1

When, however, it is desired to raise the reflector from its downwardly shifted position, it is necessary to press both but-ton B and button A at the same time whereupon current is reestablished to the motor to place it in operation and thereby raise the reflector to its horizontal position, this carrying the eccentric away from the spring contact member 61,.and allowing it to return into contact with its memberGO and thus reestablish-current to the motor.

. From the foregoing itwi ll be seen that I have provided what may be termedan effective locking means or blocking means for preventing the return movement of the re- Y flector afterit has been shifted downward until the operator also presses button A at the same time that 'button B-ispressed-L This is a'ver material advantage indevices of this kin since when thereflector is shifted byipressing the button B, its continued moyementin [an upwardor backward position is prevented in a positive manner and until the operator presses in addition to the button B thebutton A, whereas heretofore as in my prior case, the operator was likely to leave h1s' finger too long upon the button or switch and thus carrythe reflector inrmediately backward or upward to its normal position, and so at times unintentionally throw the light intoth'e' eyes of another motor driver; v v s It may be said in'conclusion, that a practical demonstration has disclosed that the glare of oncoming headlights, so dangerous to motor drivers or oncoming pedestrians,

is positively prevented when the 'lightis' shifted down'on the road, while at the same time the light thrown on theroad is sufficient to thexfull extent of such light a distance' of from forty to one hundred feet ahead ofthe car. '.In other word's,v bymeans of the presentimprovement, .the' full force of the light'is obtained ahead of the vehicle without cutting ofl' anyzof it, while the'dan,- gerous glare so common in headlights, as now used, is entirely eliminated and in addition the disadvantage of the operator being able by accident'to immediately throw the reflector back into its normal position is Y entirely avoided, requiring that this be done by a separate and distinct operation on the part of the operator.

It will be understood that the various details may be niore or less changed without departing from the spirit or scope of the present lmprovement, I claim as my invention: 1. -A lamp cor nprising-a casing, a shiftable I reflector therein, means for shifting the reflector downwardly and upwardly, a pair of manually operative means for controlling said reflector shifting means, one eflective toglgO insure the movement of the reflector down; wardly and the other cooperating to insure the movement of the'reflector upwardly, and means for preventing the return movement of the reflector upwardly until both of said manually controlled means are simultaneously placedin operation.

.2. A lamp comprising a casing, a shiftable reflector therein, electrically operative means located directly between the rear wall of the shiftable reflector and the casing for shifting the reflector downwardly and upwardly,

a pair of manually operative means for controlling said reflector shifting means, one effective to insure the movement of the reflector downwardly and the other cooperating to insure the movement of the reflector upwardly,

and means for preventing the return movement of the reflector upwardly until both of said manually controlled means are simullocated directly between the rear wall of the shiftable reflector and the casing for preventing the return movement of the reflector upwardly until both of said manually controlled means are simultaneously placed in operation.

4:. A lamp comprising a casing, a shift able reflector therein, electrically operative means for shifting the reflector, and a make and break device located in the electrical circuit and automatically thrown into operation during the movement of the reflector for preventing movement of the reflector after it has reached a certain position.

5. A lamp comprising a casing, a shiftable reflector therein, electrically operative means for shifting the reflector, a make and break device located in the electrical circuit for preventing movement of the reflector after it has reached a certain position, and manually controlled means for restoring such electrical connection.

6. A lamp comprising a casing, a shiftable reflector therein, means for operating the reflector to shift the same downwardly and upwardly, means for controlling the downward movement of the reflector, means for controlling the upward movement thereof, and means for preventing the upward movement of the reflector until both of said vmeans are put into simultaneous operation.

7. The combination of a lamp casing, a shiftable reflector therein, means for shifting said reflector and including electrical means comprising a shiftable plunger, and means located in the electrical circuit and automatically thrown into operation during the movement of the reflector for tempora: rily preventing the shifting of the reflector from a predetermined position.

8. The combination of a lamp casing, a shift-able reflector therein, means for shifting said reflector and including electrical means comprising a shiftable plunger, a

pawl shifted by said plunger, a ratchet wheelrection, and means located in the electrical circuit and automatically thrown into oper-. ation during the movement of the reflector for temporarily preventing the shifting of the reflector from a predetermined position.

10. The combination of a lamp casing, a shiftable reflector therein, means for shifting said reflector and including a make and break electrically operative means, and a make and break device located in an electrical circuit for temporarily preventing shiftable movement of the reflector.

11. The combination of a lamp casing, a shiftable reflector therein supported for up and down tilting movement to prevent the glare of the lamp, means for shifting said reflector and including a make and break electrically operated means, a make and break device located in an electrical circuit for temporarily preventing shiftable movement of the reflector, and independent switches for controlling said make and break means, one at one time and both at another time.

shiftable reflector therein supported for 'up and down tilting movement to prevent the glare of the lamp, means for shifting saidreflector and including a make and break electrically operative means comprising an electro-magnet, a shiftable core shifted by the magnet in one direction, spring controlled means for shifting the core in the opposite direction, and a make and break device located in an electrical circuit and automatically thrown into operation during the movement of the reflector for temporarily preventing shifting movement of the reflector.

13. The combination of a lamp casing, a 'shifta-ble reflector therein supported for up and'down tilting movement to prevent the glare of the lamp, means for shifting said reflect-or and includinga make and break electrlcally operative means comprising an electro-magnet, a shiftable core shifted by the magnet inone direction, spring controlled means for shifting it in the oppo- -site direction, said spring controlled means comprising a pawl, a ratchet wheel operated by said pawl and connected with the reflector, and a make and break device located shiftable reflector therein supported for up the movement of the reflector for tempora- -rily preventing the shifting of bothof said and down .tilting movement to prevent the glare of the lamp, means for shifting said reflector and including a make. and break electrically operative means comprising an electro-magnet, a shiftable core shifted by the magnet in one direction, spring controlled means for shifting it in the opposite direction, said spring controlled means comprising a pawl, a ratchet wheel operated by said pawl and connected with the reflector, an eccentric, a .shaft projecting into said ratchet wheel and also into the eccentric, and a made and break device located in an electrical circuit for temporarily preventing shiftable movement of the reflector.

15. Thecombination of a lamp casing, a Shiftable reflector therein, means for shifting said reflector and including a make andbreak electrically operative means, a companion lamp casing also having a shiftable reflector, means extending from one casing to the other wherebythe reflectors may be operated simultaneously by the same means which operates one of said reflectors, and

means located in' the electrical circuit and 5 automatically thrown into operation during reflectors from a predetermined position.

16. The combination of a lamp casing, a shiftable reflector therein supported for tip and down tilting movement to prevent the glare of the lamp, means for shifting said reflector and including a make and break electrically operative means, a companion lamp casing and shiftable reflector, means connecting the reflectors, whereby both may be operated by the samemeans. which oper .ates one of said reflectors,-means located in. :the electrical circuit and automatically thrown into operation during the movement ofthe reflector for temporarily preventing the shifting of both of said reflectors from a predetermined position, and independent switches for controlling said make and break .means, one at one time and both at another time.

17 The'combination of a lamp casing, a

shiftable reflector therein supported for u and down movement relatively to the roa electrically operative means for shifting said reflector and comprising a-motorhaving a shiftable core, a pawl, said core and pawl havin one a part projecting into the other, a rate et wheel operated by said pawl, means connecting said ratchet wheel with the reflector, and means located in the electrical circuit for temporarily preventing the shifting of said reflector from a predetermined position.

18. Th combination of' a lamp casing, a-

-. shiftable reflector therein, an eccentric conating the pawl, and means forpreventing the movement of the reflector when shifted into a certain position; I

19. The combination of a lamp casing, a shiftable'reflector therein, an eccentric connected with the reflector, a ratchet wheel for operating theeccentric, a pawl for operating .the ratchet wheel, electrically operative means for operating the pawl, and electrically operative means for preventing the movement of the reflector when shifted into a certain position. v

20. The combination-of a lamp casing, a shiftable reflector therein, an eccentric connected with the reflector, a ratchet wheel for operating the eccentric, a pawl for operating the ratchet wheel, electrically operative ing an electro-magnet .having a make and break shiftable core, a spring for shifting. the pawlin one direction, and electrically operative means for preventing the movemeans for operating the pawl and comprisment of the reflector when shifted into a certain position." v

21. The combination of a lamp casing, a

shiftable reflector therein,-an eccentric connected with the reflector, a ratchet wheel for operating the eccentric, a pawl for op.-

eratingthe ratchet wheel, electrically op-.-

erative means for operating the pawl and comprising an electro-magnet having a for preventing movement of the, ratchet wheel in one direction, and electrically op 'erative means for preventing the movement -make and break shiftable core, a spring-for shifting the pawl in one direction, a pawl tor, a shaft projecting into the ecrzentric,

means for operating said shaft and thereby the eccentrically supported device, and

means for preventing movement of the re flector when shifted into a certain position.

23. The combination of a lamp casing, a shiftable reflector therein, means for shifting the reflector, and comprising an eccentrically supporteddevice connected with the reflector, a-ratchet wheel connected with the eccentric, a pawl for operating the ratchet Wheel, an electro-magnet, a pair of make and break contact members, one. having connection with the pawl and the other with the magnet, and .ineans for preventing movement of the reflector when shifted into a certain position.

A lampcomprising a casing, a shiftable reflector therein, .electrically operative means for shifting the reflectorinto a tilted i position and including a make and break device, means for preventing the movement of the reflector when shifted into said tilted position, and electrically operative means including said make and break device for effecting movement of the reflector to its original position.

The combination of a pair of headlight casings, a pair of reflectors pivotally supported therein, a connection betweensaid reflectors at their open ends, electrically operative means for shifting said reflectors and including a make and break device, and means automatically thrown into operation during the movement of the reflector for preventing movement of the reflectors when. shifted to their downward position.

. 26. The combination of a pair of headlight casings, a pair of reflectors pivotally supported therein, an eccentric connected with one only of said reflectors; a shaftprojecting-into said eccentric, a coupling connecting said reflectors adjacent to their open ends, and means for operating said shaft and thereby the eccentricv and comprising electrical mechanism located directly between the rear wall of the shiftable reflector and its casing.

27. The combination of a pair of headlight casings, a pair of reflectors pivotally supported therein, an eccentric connected -With one of said reflectors, a coupling connecting said reflectors adjacent to their open ends, and means for operating said eccentric and comprising electrical mechanism including a make and break device for preventing movement of the reflectors when shifted into a downward position.

28. A lamp comprising a casing, a shiftable reflector located therein, and electrically operative means for shifting said reflector and including a pair of circuits and means for closing the same, one operative to shift the reflector into a downward position and jointly operative to. returnthe reflector to its normal position;

29. A lamp comprising a casing, a shiftable reflector located therein, and electriflectorand including a make and break elec-- trically operative means comprising an electro-magnet, a shiftable core shifted, by the magnet in one direction, spring controlled means for shifting it in the opposite direction, said spring controlled, means comprising a pawl, a ratchet wheel operated by saidpawl and connected with the reflector by an eccentrically supported device, a make and break device, and means placed in operation on the rotation of the eccentric for breaking said device. o I

31. The combination of a lamp casing, a shiftable reflector therein, an eccentric connected with the reflector, a ratchet wheel for operating the eccentric a pawl for operating the ratchet wheel, means for operating the pawl, and make and break mechanism comprising a pair of contact members and a rotating member, the latter rotatable with the eccentric for breaking contact between said contact members A lamp comprising a casing, a shiftable reflector therein, electrically operative means for shifting the reflector into a clownward position and including a switch, means located in the electricalcircuit for preventing the return of the reflector during the continued operation of said switch and including a make and break device, supplemental means for closing the circuit thereby to throw out of operation the make and break device and effect the return of the reflector to its normal position.

Signed at Cleveland, Ohio, this 10th of Sept, 1917.

-WILLIAM M. HORTON.

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